John Turturro

Actor John Turturro rose to prominence as a favorite of filmmakers Spike Lee and the Coen Brothers with early roles in "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "Miller's Crossing" (1990), making him a go-to gu...
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You might hate Michael Bay. You might hate his movies. You might hate every movie he's ever made. But in that very fact is there a paradox: in order to hate every movie Michael Bay has made, you have to have seen every movie Michael Bay has made. And you have, or at least most of them. His films' box office numbers and the unparalleled population density of their critic screenings are proof enough of that. As much as we all lament the life's work of the Los Angeles-born director (including his latest feature, Transformers: Age of Extinction) there is something about his films that draws us back repeatedly. With this in mind, we have to assume that some of them might not actually be as bad as we're inclined to let on.
Sure, some of Bay's films are obscenely empty-headed marathons of metallic friction, but among the lot are a few examples of relatively decent blockbuster production. We're not quite sure which is Bay's best (or, if you prefer, least offensive) movie, but we have some candidates. And of course, we're also up for considering his worst piece of work yet, too. Because that's more fun.
WHICH IS MICHAEL BAY'S BEST MOVIE?
Could it be...
...The Rock?
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Just the second film Bay ever made, the '96 picture is a pretty sturdy action epic. Performances from Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery don't hurt The Rock's cause one bit. Nor does the climactic Elton John-inspired wordplay.
...Pain &amp; Gain?
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
The only non-Transformers film that Bay has made since picking up the franchise in 2007 is actually a pretty sharp, funny satire about the very ideas that his filmography propagates.
...Armageddon?
Touchstone Pictures
I know, I know... but... eh, I don't know. It's decidedly cheesy, but hits a few marks in fun and excitement.
WHICH IS MICHAEL BAY'S WORST MOVIE?
Could it be...
...Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen?
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Wholly disillusioning in its nihilistic adherence to spiritually vacant destruction, this is almost certainly the worst of the Transformers flicks and perhaps Bay's most agonizing feature to date.
...Pearl Harbor?
Touchstone Pictures via Everett Collection
Why did this happen?
...Bad Boys II?
Columbia Pictures via Everett Collection
I gather that most would deem it egregious hyperbole to denote Bad Boys II the very worst movie Bay has made, but I defy you to sit through this unbelievably overlong tribute to grit and machismo without wincing in agony at every half-hour mark.
Let us know what you think: are you a defender of Dark of the Moon? Do you detest The Island? Sound off below! And catch Transformers: Age of Extinction in theaters now. You know you're going to. We all are.
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After John Turturro has finishes selling sex, he'll be back on the right side of the law. The actor is set to take over the lead role in the upcoming HBO miniseries Criminal Justice, which was originally developed as James Gandolfini’s passion project. The show, which is based on an acclaimed BBC series, will see Turturro play a high-powered New York lawyer who defends as Pakistani man accused of murdering a girl he remembers partying with on the Upper East Side, but can’t seem to recall whether or not he killed her. Robert De Niro was previously attached to the role, but had to step down amid scheduling conflicts.
Turturro’s move to television makes him one in a long line of Coen Brothers regulars who have recently made the jump to the small screen, including Steve Buscemi, whose show Boardwalk Empire is entering its final season, and Frances McDormand, who will play the title role in the upcoming mini series Olive Kittridge. Even their flick Fargo has moved over to television, and the FX series has been receiving rave reviews. Seeing all of these Coen-ites together on television got us thinking about some of Turturro's other collaborators, and the way they've influenced his career.
In honor of Turturro taking over Criminal Justice, we've ranked all of his frequent filmmaking partners based on the quantity and quality of their output, as well as their overall Turturro-ness - that elusive factor that determines how important these films are in understanding and appreciating Turturro's career.
MICHAEL BAY'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 3Best Role: Agent Simmons, specifically the one that appeared in the first Transformers film. That was the best one. Worst Role: None. That series needed Simmons more than he needed it. General Consensus: We're assuming that there are some people who looked into Turturro's other films thanks to his performance in the Transformers franchise, so at least some good came from it. Overall Turturro-ness: Low. Just go watch The Big Lebowski again instead.
MARTIN SCORSESE'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films Directed by Scorsese: 2 Number of Films Co-Starring Scorsese: 2 Best Role: Julian in The Color of Money. Mostly because Raging Bull doesn't count. Worst Role: Raging Bull, where Turturro was only an extra. General Consensus: While Turturro isn't a Scorsese regular, the films they have made together are very good. Hopefully they'll work together again soon, becuase Turturro and DiCaprio would make a hell of a team. Overall Turturro-ness: Low. The movies are definitely worth seeing, but they're not vital to the Turturro experience.
HAPPY MADISON'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 3Best Role: Emilio Lopez in Mr. Deeds, which Turturro has said was the most fun he had in a Happy Madison film. Worst Role: Phantom in You Don't Mess With the Zohan. It's best for everyone if we just continue to pretend this movie never happened. General Consensus: Turturro is generally the best part of whatever Happy Madison film he appears in, and he seems to have a lot of fun with Sandler, but these movies are... well, they're just not that good. Overall Turturro-ness: Middling. They're well known roles, but they're not well-regarded.
WOODY ALLEN'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films Directed by Allen: 1Number of Films Co-Starring Allen: 2 Best Role: Writer in Hannah and Her Sisters, which wins by default, since it's the only true "Woody Allen film" in Turturro's resume. Worst Role: Crocker Johnson in Company Man, which would have really benefitted from that cut Bill Murray cameo. General Consensus: One one hand, his collaborations with Allen have yet to produce a truly iconic Turturro role, but on the other hand, it's not You Don't Mess With The Zohan. Overall Turturro-ness: Middling, thanks to a boost from Fading Gigolo.
SPIKE LEE'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 9Best Role: Pino in Do the Right Thing. In addition to being an iconic film, it's also the role that kicked off a long-time partnership between Lee and Turturro. Worst Role: Don Angelo Bonasera in She Hate Me, the weakest film that the pair have made together. General Consensus: Turturro and Lee have been working together for over 20 years, and their partnership has produced some truly wonderful films, and it's one that should be celebrated a lot more often. Overall Turturro-ness: High. These films have produced some of Turturro's most iconic roles.
THE COEN BROTHERS' JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 4 Best Role: Barton Fink in Barton Fink. It's quintessential Turturro. Worst Role: None. Turturro's four films with the Coen Brothers are some of the best they've made. General Consensus: He's an incredibly vital part of the Coens' cast of actors, and together, they brought the world Jesus Quintana. Clearly, this is a partnership for the ages. Overall Turturro-ness: Sky high. Because after reading this list, you definitely want to watch one of their movies again, don't you? Be honest.
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Actor John Turturro is stepping in for Robert De Niro on new TV mini-series Criminal Justice, after the Oscar winner replaced James Gandolfini following his death last year (Jun13).
In September (13), the Raging Bull legend signed on to take over the lead role from Gandolfini, who starred in the pilot. Due to scheduling issues, De Niro has been forced to bow out of the series. Turturro has now been cast to play New York City attorney Jack Stone, according to Deadline.com.
Turturro has links to both actors - he has previously starred alongside De Niro in four films, while Gandolfini appeared in 2005's Romance &amp; Cigarettes, which was written and directed by Turturro. Gandolfini developed the U.S. adaptation of Peter Moffatt's acclaimed 2008 BBC drama of the same name, and will posthumously be credited as a producer.

Sofia Vergara's character in her new movie Fading Gigolo was inspired by writer/director John Turturro's busty spectacles designer, who also appears in the film. The Barton Fink star tells WENN he didn't have to look far to find the woman behind his movie creation - he has been buying glasses from her for years.
Turturro explains, "Sofia's character is inspired by my friend Salima and she designed my glasses. She is very well endowed and she has sold me many glasses over the years by thrusting herself in front of me: 'John what do you think of these glasses?'
"I've bought so many pairs of terrible glasses from her over the years! She's a great lady and Sofia has the kind of spirit that is similar to hers so it was a perfect match. She's actually in the film as one of my clients. She's the lady in bed when I have the flower in my hair."
Turturro admits it was a joy to work with Vergara, adding, "Sofia is very gifted and if I would have known that she thinks more in Spanish than in English I would have put more of the movie in Spanish."

Actor John Turturro had a very direct way of making sure his Fading Gigolo co-star Woody Allen stuck to his lines in the film - a young castmate stepped on the movie great's foot whenever he forgot what to say. Turturro directed his pal in the new comedy and admits it was thrilling to have Allen on set.
He reveals Woody went out of his way to make everyone feel at ease, and one co-star made sure the filmmaker stayed true to the script.
Turturro explains, "Woody was great with those kids. They treated him like they didn't know who he was, like, 'You're just an old man!'
"The first day on the set he wasn't getting his lines right away and he skipped, like, three paragraphs. One of the kids would step on his foot whenever Woody would forget any lines. We have the outtakes."

Actress Sofia Vergara followed Sharon Stone's lead in a saucy sex scene with actor/director John Turturro in new movie Fading Gigolo after confessing she was "a little nervous" at the prospect of shooting her first film threesome. The Modern Family beauty admits she wasn't sure how to act out the intimate segment in the romantic drama, in which Turturro plays a male escort trying to earn a little extra money by pleasuring his clients.
She tells CBSnews.com, "At the beginning, I was a little nervous because... I've never done anything like this, not in real life or on camera. So it was a little nerve-wracking."
But she was quickly put at ease by Basic Instinct star Stone: "When I arrived on the set, Sharon was very supportive. She was very nice. She told me, 'Just follow me, I've done this many times, it's going to be fine, just relax.'"
Woody Allen and Johnny Depp's ex Vanessa Paradis also star in Fading Gigolo.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe is hoping to expand his movie resume by starring in a big screen musical. The Harry Potter star, who led the cast of Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, wants to take his singing talents to the movie theatre and admits he is interested in tackling a "bizarre musical movie" like John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes.
He tells EW.com, "I would love to do a big film musical. I think when they're done right, they're incredibly exciting and fun and cool.
"Everyone thinks of the ones that come to mind immediately, like Grease and things like that, but what was that slightly bizarre but wonderful John Turturro film? Romance & Cigarettes. It's a bizarre musical, and I love weird, interesting, different stuff like that."

Copious amounts of snow? Check. 1990-something automobile? Check. Old timey tunes blaring on the radio? Check. This definitely looks something like a Fargo series. And even though FX's upcoming adaptation is only loosely based on the Coen Brothers' 1996 classic, we're beyond excited. The trailer is pretty short, only giving us a few precious seconds of Billy Bob Thornton scraping midwestern flurries off of his windshield, before giving us an icy glare, but it has to be good enough for now. Hopefully the next trailer gives us a little bit of Martin Freeman's American accent, and at least a couple "you betcha"s (we'll even settle for a "don'tcha know"). Since Fargo is getting the small screen treatment, we wondered which other of the Coens' films would work on television, let's start at the top and work our way through the list.
Blood SimpleWould it work as a series?Yes. Texas-style neo-noir on a week-to-week basis. We all love True Detective, don't we?
Raising ArizonaWould it work as a series?No. Nicolas Cage's zany baby-stealing high jinks might be fun as a one-off, but 13 episodes of this shtick would be overkill.
Miller's CrossingWould it work as a series?Yes. With Boardwalk Empire ending, the TV landscape is in need of some good old-fashioned mobster moxie.
Barton FinkWould it work as a series?No. His writers block would make us all lose our minds after a few weeks.
The Hudsucker ProxyWould it work as a series?Yes. Who wouldn't want some more Coen-infused screwball hoopla? (Get it?!) We picture it as a much wackier version of Mad Men.
The Big LebowskiWould it work as a series?No. The Dude's story started and ended back in Gulf War-era Los Angeles, and shouldn't be tampered with.
O Brother, Where Art thouWould it work as a series?No. Look at how badly Prison Break fell apart.
The Man Who Wasn't ThereWould it work as a series?Maybe, but the Coens' mostly forgotten follow-up to O Brother probably wouldn't rustle up too many viewers.
FX
Intolerable CrueltyWould it work as a series?Yes. Watching a savvy, debonair leading man play a ruthless divorce lawyer already sounds like something that should be a show. Tuesdays on TBS!
The LadykillersWould it work as a series?Yes. A weekly series where a southern dandy tries to charm his way into the high-stakes crime ring definitely could definitely be fun for some laughs.
No Country for Old MenWould it work as a series?No. There's only so much "floppy haired serial killer" we can take.
Burn After ReadingWould it work as a series?Yes. A workplace comedy about the U.S. government and a local gym, and the points at which they intersect, has the makings for great television.
A Serious ManWould it work as a series?No. Not even AMC could carry a series that depressing.
True GritWould it work as a series?No. Trying to understand Rooster Cogburn's old west grumble was hard enough in surround sound.
Inside Llewyn DavisWould it work as a series?Sure. A TV series about an unlikable main character trying to become a successful artist in New York? It could be like a 1960s version of Girls.
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It's no secret that directors often cast the same actors over and over in different projects. After all, they've made a strong connection, proven that they work well together, and have become like a cinematic family. So, when David O. Russell needed to cast his latest film, American Hustle, he didn't have to look far for talent; he chose actors he had previously directed in the Oscar-nominated films The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. With that much talent and camaraderie on board, its no wonder that the film has been getting a great deal of awards buzz, and even earned 7 Golden Globe nominations.
But Russell isn't the only director to have found success with a particular combination of actors. In fact, some of the most critically and financially successful films in recent years have come from similar teams. In honor of American Hustle hitting theaters this weekend, we've decided to rank five famous director and actor teams in order to determine who has the most successful partnership of them all.
5. David O. Russell: Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence. Though the newest addition to the list, the Russell and Co. partnership has already had a great deal of critical success. Adams and Bale starred in 2010's The Fighter, which earned Russell and Adams each an Oscar nomination, and a Best Supporting Actor win for Bale. Russell followed that up with last year's Silver Linings Playbook, for which he was nominated for Best Director once again, along with Cooper's Best Actor nod and Lawrence's Best Actress win. Despite that, they still rank the lowest on our list, as they've been a team for the shortest amount of time. Sure, everything they've touched has turned to Oscar gold so far, but it's still too soon to tell whether or not their partnership will stand the test of time.
By The Numbers: Number of films made together: 2 for everyone Years of Partnership: 3 (Adams and Bale), 2 (Cooper and Lawrence) Highest grossing film: Silver Linings Playbook, $132 million Number of Oscar nominations: 3 (Russell), 1 (Bale, Lawrence, Adams, Cooper) Number of Oscar wins: One each for Lawrence and Bale Most Critically Acclaimed Film: Silver Linings Playbook, 92%
4. Christopher Nolan: Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Cillian Murphy. Nolan's team is by far the most financially successful, due primarily to all of these actors playing significant roles in the Batman franchise. When it came time for Nolan to branch out from superheroes into an original film, Inception, he took along Caine and Murphy, both of whom have worked with the director for a long time. It was working on Inception that he discovered Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt, who he promptly cast in the final Batman film. But despite their massive box office success, this team earns the fourth spot on our list due to Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt being such recent additions.
By The Numbers: Number of films made together: 6 (Caine), 4 (Murphy), 2 (Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt)Years of Partnership: 8 (Caine and Murphy), 3 (Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt)Highest Grossing film: The Dark Knight, $553.3 millionNumber of Oscar nominations: 2 (Nolan)Number of Oscar wins: 0Most Critically Acclaimed Film: The Dark Knight, 94%
3. Wes Anderson: Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson. Though this team is neither the most critically or financially successful group on the list, they earn their number-three spot by being one of the more iconic groupings in cinema. Whenever Anderson makes a new film, it's guaranteed that these actors will appear in some capacity, and they have come to epitomize the director's cinematic style and tone. With nearly 20 years of work under their belts, there's no doubt that this team will be one that endures for much longer; with Anderson's films gaining more and more critical and public attention, we're sure it's only a matter of time before they catch up to the other teams in both awards and box office returns.
By The Numbers: Number of films made together: 7 (Bill Murray and Owen Wilson), 5 (Jason Schwartzman)Years of Partnership: 17 (Wilson), 15 (Murray and Schwartzman)Highest Grossing film: Moonrise Kingdom ($45.5 million)Number of Oscar nominations: 3 (Anderson)Number of Oscar wins: 0Most Critically Acclaimed Film: Moonrise Kingdom, 94%
2. Tim Burton: Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp. This team is a good example of the adage "too much of a good thing." Although fans have enjoyed seeing Bonham Carter and Depp onscreen together for years, Burton's insistence on working primarily with these two actors has resulted in the partnership becoming something of a punchline, and has left many people blaming the recent decline in the quality of Burton's films on his reluctance to embrace new actors or styles. Despite this, the three of them have become one of the most iconic teams in film history, and have enjoyed a great deal of both critical and box office success over the time that they have spent working together. Depp and Burton also hold the distinction of having made the most films together out of all of the teams on our list, and many of those films are considered to be modern classics.
By The Numbers: Number of films made together: 8 (Depp), 7 (Carter)Years of Partnership: 23 (Depp), 12 (Carter)Highest grossing film: Alice in Wonderland ($334 million)Number of Oscar nominations: 0Number of Oscar wins: 0Most Critically Acclaimed Film: Sweeney Todd, 86%
1. The Coen Brothers: Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Frances McDormand, and John Turturro. It makes sense that the director(s) with the most successful team of actors would, themselves, be a team. Over the course of almost 30 years — the longest partnership of any team on the list — Joel and Ethan Coen have directed their group of favorite actors in some of the best and most critically acclaimed films in recent history. They also hold the record for the most Oscar nominations any grouping on this list has received, and that's without including the clean sweep of awards that No Country For Old Men earned in 2007. They've also got the chance to put more distance between themselves and the other teams on this list this year, as the Goodman-starring Inside Llewyn Davis has been getting a lot of awards attention.
By The Numbers: Number of films made together: 6 (McDormand, Goodman, Buscemi), 4 (Turturro)Years of Partnership: 29 (McDormand), 26 (Goodman), 23 (Buscemi and Turturro)Highest Grossing film: Burn After Reading, $60 millNumber of Oscar nominations: 5 (Coen Brothers), 1 (McDormand)Number of Oscar wins: One each for the Coen Brothers and McDormand. Most Critically Acclaimed Film: Fargo, 94%
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Everett Collection
The 2014 Sundance Film Festival lineup for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary competition and the out-of-competition NEXT section is officially here, and damn are we excited.
As the festival has evolved and grown, so has the long list of actors and directors who have eagerly jumped on board to be a part of the indie film scene, which means that the lineup of actors for the upcoming event is looking pretty solid. In 2014 we can look forward to seeing the works of those like Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, John Slattery, Aaron Paul, Kristen Stewart, and Mark Ruffalo, and comedians such as Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Lena Dunham, Jenny Slate, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Sedaris, and more.
The festival will run from Jan. 16 to 26 in Park City, Utah and will include 118 features. Still to come are the lineups for Slates for Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, Premieres and Documentary Premieres, and the new Sundance Kids category.
Check out the lineup so far (via Vulture):
DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Camp X-Ray / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Peter Sattler) — A young woman is stationed as a guard in Guantanamo Bay, where she forms an unlikely friendship with one of the detainees. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi, Lane Garrison, J.J. Soria, John Carroll Lynch.Cold in July / U.S.A. (Director: Jim Mickle, Screenwriters: Jim Mickle, Nick Damici) — After killing a home intruder, a small town Texas man's life unravels into a dark underworld of corruption and violence. Cast: Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Nick Damici, Wyatt Russell.Dear White People / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Simien) — Four black students attend an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over an “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in postracial America while weaving a story about forging one's unique path in the world. Cast: Tyler Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell.Fishing Without Nets / U.S.A., Somalia, Kenya (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey, David Burkman) — A story of pirates in Somalia told from the perspective of a struggling, young Somali fisherman. Cast: Abdikani Muktar, Abdi Siad, Abduwhali Faarah, Abdikhadir Hassan, Reda Kateb, Idil Ibrahim.God's Pocket / U.S.A. (Director: John Slattery, Screenwriters: John Slattery, Alex Metcalf) — When Mickey's stepson Leon is killed in a construction "accident," Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when the boy's mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck between a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please, and a debt he can’t pay. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro.Happy Christmas / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Joe Swanberg) — After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son. Cast: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham, Joe Swanberg.Hellion / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kat Candler) — When motocross and heavy metal obsessed, 13-year-old Jacob's delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother Wes with his aunt, Jacob and his emotionally absent father must finally take responsibility for their actions and each other in order to bring Wes home. Cast: Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Jonny Mars, Walt Roberts.Infinitely Polar Bear / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Maya Forbes) — A manic-depressive mess of a father tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don't make the overwhelming task any easier. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, Ashley Aufderheide.Jamie Marks is Dead / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Carter Smith) — No one seemed to care about Jamie Marks until after his death. Hoping to find the love and friendship he never had in life, Jamie’s ghost visits former classmate Adam McCormick, drawing him into the bleak world between the living and the dead. Cast: Cameron Monaghan, Noah Silver, Morgan Saylor, Judy Greer, Madisen Beaty, Liv Tyler.Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner, Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi.Life After Beth / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she mysteriously returns, he gets a second chance at love. Soon his whole world turns upside down... Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser.Low Down / U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Preiss, Screenwriters: Amy Albany, Topper Lilien) — Based on Amy Jo Albany's memoir, Low Down explores her heart-wrenching journey to adulthood while being raised by her father, bebop pianist Joe Albany, as he teeters between incarceration and addiction in the urban decay and waning bohemia of Hollywood in the 1970s. Cast: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Flea.The Skeleton Twins / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Johnson, Screenwriters: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman) — Estranged twins Maggie and Milo coincidentally cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront the reasons their lives went so wrong. As the twins' reunion reinvigorates them, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook, Joanna Gleason.The Sleepwalker / U.S.A., Norway (Director: Mona Fastvold, Screenwriters: Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet) — A young couple, Kaia and Andrew, are renovating Kaia´s secluded family estate. Their lives are violently interrupted when unexpected guests arrive. The Sleepwalker chronicles the unraveling of the lives of four disparate characters as it transcends genre conventions and narrative contrivance to reveal something much more disturbing. Cast: Gitte Witt, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet, Stephanie Ellis.Song One / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kate Barker-Froyland) — Estranged from her family, Franny returns home when an accident leaves her brother comatose. Retracing his life as an aspiring musician, she tracks down his favorite musician, James Forester. Against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s music scene, Franny and James develop an unexpected relationship and face the realities of their lives. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Rosenfield.Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.
NEXT
Appropriate Behavior / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Desiree Akhavan) — Shirin is struggling to become an ideal Persian daughter, a politically correct bisexual, and a hip, young Brooklynite, but fails miserably in her attempt at all identities. Being without a cliché to hold on to can be a lonely experience. Cast: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer, Scott Adsit, Anh Duong, Arian Moayed. World Premiere.Drunktown's Finest / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sydney Freeland) — Three young Native Americans—a rebellious father-to-be, a devout Christian woman, and a promiscuous transsexual—come of age on an Indian reservation. Cast: Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morningstar Angeline, Kiowa Gordon, Shauna Baker, Elizabeth Francis. World Premiere.The Foxy Merkins / U.S.A. (Director: Madeleine Olnek, Screenwriters: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Madeleine Olnek) — Two lesbian hookers work the streets of New York. One is a down-on-her-luck newbie; the other is a beautiful—and straight—grifter who's an expert on picking up women. Together they face bargain-hunting housewives, double-dealing conservative women, and each other in this prostitute buddy comedy. Cast: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Alex Karpovsky, Susan Ziegler, Sally Sockwell, Deb Margolin.A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour) — In the Iranian ghost town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, depraved denizens are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, Milad Eghbali. World Premiere.Imperial Dreams / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds. World Premiere.Land Ho! / U.S.A., Iceland (Directors and screenwriters: Martha Stephens, Aaron Katz) — A pair of ex-brothers-in-law set off to Iceland in an attempt to reclaim their youth through Reykjavik nightclubs, trendy spas, and rugged campsites. This bawdy adventure is a throwback to 1980s road comedies, as well as a candid exploration of aging, loneliness, and friendship. Cast: Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Nelson, Alice Olivia Clarke, Karrie Krouse, Elizabeth McKee, Emmsjé Gauti. World Premiere.Listen Up Philip / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry) — A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol's daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York. Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume. World Premiere.Memphis / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Tim Sutton) — A strange singer drifts through the mythic city of Memphis, surrounded by beautiful women, legendary musicians, a stone-cold hustler, a righteous preacher, and a wolf pack of kids. Under a canopy of ancient oak trees and burning spirituality, his doomed journey breaks from conformity and reaches out for glory. Cast: Willis Earl Beal, Lopaka Thomas, Constance Brantley, Devonte Hull, John Gary Williams, Larry Dodson. World Premiere.Obvious Child / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Gillian Robespierre) — An honest comedy about what happens when Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired, and pregnant, just in time for the worst/best Valentine's Day of her life. Cast: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind. World Premiere.Ping Pong Summer / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Tully) — 1985. Ocean City, Maryland. Summer vacation. Rap music. Parachute pants. Ping pong. First crushes. Best friends. Mean bullies. Weird mentors. That awkward, momentous time in your life when you're treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you're as funky fresh as it gets. Cast: Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, Marcello Conte. World Premiere.War Story / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Jackson, Screenwriters: Kristin Gore, Mark Jackson) — A war photographer retreats to a small town in Sicily after being held captive during the conflict in Libya. Cast: Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi, Vincenzo Amato, Donatella Finocchiaro, Ben Kingsley. World Premiere.
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITIONAlive Inside: A Story of Music &amp; Memory / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted. All the Beautiful Things / U.S.A. (Director: John Harkrider) — John and Barron are lifelong friends whose friendship is tested when Barron's girlfriend says Barron put a knife to her throat and raped her. Not knowing she has lied, John tells her to go to the police. Years later, John and Barron meet in a bar to resolve the betrayal.CAPTIVATED The Trials of Pamela Smart / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director: Jeremiah Zagar) — In an extraordinary and tragic American story, a small town murder becomes one of the highest profile cases of all time. From its historic role as the first televised trial to the many books and movies made about it, the film looks at the media’s enduring impact on the case. The Case Against 8 / U.S.A. (Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White) — A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.Cesar's Last Fast / U.S.A. (Directors: Richard Ray Perez, Lorena Parlee) — Inspired by Catholic social teaching, Cesar Chavez risked his life fighting for America’s poorest workers. The film illuminates the intensity of one man’s devotion and personal sacrifice, the birth of an economic justice movement, and tells an untold chapter in the story of civil rights in America. Dinosaur 13 / U.S.A. (Director: Todd Miller) — The true tale behind one of the greatest discoveries in history. Day One film.E-TEAM / U.S.A. (Directors: Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman) — E-TEAM is driven by the high-stakes investigative work of four intrepid human rights workers, offering a rare look at their lives at home and their dramatic work in the field. Fed Up / U.S.A. (Director: Stephanie Soechtig) — Fed Up blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and weight loss, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry, aided by the U.S. government, to mislead and confuse the American public, resulting in one of the largest health epidemics in history. The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz / U.S.A. (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — Programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz achieved groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing. His passion for open access ensnared him in a legal nightmare that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26. Ivory Tower / U.S.A. (Director: Andrew Rossi) — As tuition spirals upward and student debt passes a trillion dollars, students and parents ask, "Is college worth it?" From the halls of Harvard to public and private colleges in financial crisis to education startups in Silicon Valley, an urgent portrait emerges of a great American institution at the breaking point. Marmato / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Grieco) — Colombia is the center of a new global gold rush, and Marmato, a historic mining town, is the new frontier. Filmed over the course of nearly six years, Marmato chronicles how townspeople confront a Canadian mining company that wants the $20 billion in gold beneath their homes. No No: A Dockumentary / U.S.A. (Director: Jeffrey Radice) — Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD, then worked for decades counseling drug abusers. Dock's soulful style defined 1970s baseball as he kept hitters honest and embarrassed the establishment. An ensemble cast of teammates, friends, and family investigate his life on the field, in the media, and out of the spotlight. The Overnighters / U.S.A. (Director: Jesse Moss) — Desperate, broken men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor's decision to help them has extraordinary and unexpected consequences.Private Violence / U.S.A. (Director: Cynthia Hill) — One in four women experience violence in their homes. Have you ever asked, “Why doesn't she just leave?” Private Violence shatters the brutality of our logic and intimately reveals the stories of two women: Deanna Walters, who transforms from victim to survivor, and Kit Gruelle, who advocates for justice. Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility. Watchers of the Sky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action. WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
52 Tuesdays / Australia (Director: Sophie Hyde, Screenplay and story by: Matthew Cormack, Story by: Sophie Hyde) — Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility, and transformation was filmed over the course of a year—once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Imogen Archer, Mario Späte, Beau Williams, Sam Althuizen. International Premiere.Blind / Norway, Netherlands (Director and screenwriter: Eskil Vogt) — Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. But Ingrid's real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Cast: Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt. World Premiere.Difret / Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) — Meaza Ashenafi is a young lawyer who operates under the government's radar helping women and children until one young girl's legal case exposes everything, threatening not only her career but her survival. Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere. World Premiere.The Disobedient / Serbia (Director and screenwriter: Mina Djukic) — Leni anxiously waits for her childhood friend Lazar, who is coming back to their hometown after years of studying abroad. After they reunite, they embark on a random bicycle trip around their childhood haunts, which will either exhaust or reinvent their relationship. Cast: Hana Selimovic, Mladen Sovilj, Minja Subota, Danijel Sike, Ivan Djordjevic. World Premiere.God Help the Girl / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stuart Murdoch) — This musical from Stuart Murdoch of Belle &amp; Sebastian is about some messed up boys and girls and the music they made. Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Cora Bissett, Pierre Boulanger. World Premiere.Liar's Dice / India (Director and screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas) — Kamala, a young woman from the village of Chitkul, leaves her native land with her daughter to search for her missing husband. Along the journey, they encounter Nawazudin, a free-spirited army deserter with his own selfish motives who helps them reach their destination. Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta. International Premiere.Lilting / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Hong Khaou) — The world of a Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger who doesn't speak her language. Lilting is a touching and intimate film about finding the things that bring us together. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Pei-Pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles, Naomi Christie, Morven Christie. World Premiere.
Lock Charmer (El cerrajero) / Argentina (Director and screenwriter: Natalia Smirnoff) — Upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, 33-year-old locksmith Sebastian begins to have strange visions about his clients. With the help of an unlikely assistant, he sets out to use his newfound talent for his own good. Cast: Esteban Lamothe, Erica Rivas, Yosiria Huaripata. World Premiere.To Kill a Man / Chile, France (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernandez Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who's barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge's son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge's son nearly dies, Kalule's sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna. World Premiere.Viktoria / Bulgaria, Romania (Director and screenwriter: Maya Vitkova) — Although determined not to have a child in Communist Bulgaria, Boryana gives birth to Viktoria, who despite being born with no umbilical cord, is proclaimed to be the baby of the decade. But political collapse and the hardships of the new time bind mother and daughter together. Cast: Irmena Chichikova, Daria Vitkova, Kalina Vitkova, Mariana Krumova, Dimo Dimov, Georgi Spassov. World Premiere.Wetlands / Germany (Director: David Wnendt, Screenwriters: Claus Falkenberg, David Wnendt, based on the novel by Charlotte Roche) — Meet Helen Memel. She likes to experiment with vegetables while masturbating and thinks that bodily hygiene is greatly overrated. She shocks those around her by speaking her mind in a most unladylike manner on topics that many people would not even dare consider. Cast: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Meret Becker, Axel Milberg, Marlen Kruse, Edgar Selge. North American Premiere.White Shadow / Italy, Germany, Tanzania (Director: Noaz Deshe, Screenwriters: Noaz Deshe, James Masson) — Alias is a young albino boy on the run. His mother has sent him away to find refuge in the city after witnessing his father's murder. Over time, the city becomes no different than the bush: wherever Alias travels, the same rules of survival apply. Cast: Hamisi Bazili, James Gayo, Glory Mbayuwayu, Salum Abdallah. International Premiere.
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth &amp; Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit. World Premiere.Concerning Violence / Sweden, U.S.A., Denmark, Finland (Director: Göran Hugo Olsson) — Concerning Violence is based on newly discovered, powerful archival material documenting the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation in the Third World, accompanied by classic text from The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon. World Premiere.The Green Prince / Germany, Israel, United Kingdom (Director: Nadav Schirman ) — This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries. World Premiere.
Happiness / France, Finland (Director: Thomas Balmès) — Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon the world will come to him: the village is about to be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki's eyes. North American Premiere.Love Child / South Korea, U.S.A. (Director: Valerie Veatch) — In Seoul in the Republic of Korea, a young couple stands accused of neglect when "Internet addiction" in an online fantasy game costs the life of their infant daughter. Love Child documents the 2010 trial and subsequent ruling that set a global precedent in a world where virtual is the new reality. World Premiere.Mr leos caraX / France (Director: Tessa Louise-Salomé) — Mr leos caraX plunges us into the poetic and visionary world of a mysterious, solitary filmmaker who was already a cult figure from his very first film. Punctuated by interviews and previously unseen footage, this documentary is most of all a fine-tuned exploration of the poetic and visionary world of Leos Carax, alias Mr. X. World Premiere.My Prairie Home / Canada (Director: Chelsea McMullan) — A poetic journey through landscapes both real and emotional, Chelsea McMullan’s documentary/musical offers an intimate portrait of transgender singer Rae Spoon, framed by stunning images of the Canadian prairies. McMullan’s imaginative visual interpretations of Spoon’s songs make this an unforgettable look at a unique Canadian artist. International Premiere.The Notorious Mr. Bout / U.S.A., Russia (Directors: Tony Gerber, Maxim Pozdorovkin) — Viktor Bout was a war profiteer, an entrepreneur, an aviation tycoon, an arms dealer, and—strangest of all—a documentary filmmaker. The Notorious Mr. Bout is the ultimate rags-to-riches-to-prison memoir, documented by the last man you'd expect to be holding the camera. World Premiere.Return to Homs / Syria, Germany (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime's security forces. North American Premiere.SEPIDEH – Reaching for the Stars / Denmark (Director: Berit Madsen) — Sepideh wants to become an astronaut. As a young Iranian woman, she knows it’s dangerous to challenge traditions and expectations. Still, Sepideh holds on to her dream. She knows a tough battle is ahead, a battle that only seems possible to win once she seeks help from an unexpected someone. North American Premiere.We Come as Friends / France, Austria (Director: Hubert Sauper) — We Come as Friends views colonization as a human phenomenon through both explicit and metaphoric lenses without oversimplified accusations or political theorizing. Alarmingly, It is not a historical film since colonization and the slave trade still exist. World Premiere.Web Junkie / Israel (Directors: Shosh Shlam, Hilla Medalia) — China is the first country to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder. Web Junkie investigates a Beijing rehab center where Chinese teenagers are deprogrammed. World Premiere.
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Broadway debut, "Death of a Salesman" (understudy for roles of Biff and Happy)

Spent early childhood in Hollis, Queens, NY

First starring film role, "Men of Respect," a pretentious modern version of "Macbeth"; first film with wife Katherine Borowitz

Co-starred with George Clooney and Tim Blake Nelson as a trio of escapees from a Southern chain gang in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Had featured role in "13 Conversations About One Thing"

Acted in Tim Robbins' "Cradle Will Rock"

Played a snooty butler in "Mr. Deeds," starring Adam Sandler

Acted in Cole's directing debut, "OK Garage"

Made film debut in "Raging Bull"; Turturro and friend Michael Badalucco wrote their own scene and auditioned for director, Martin Scorsese and actor, Robert De Niro, who cast the two as extras for their trouble

Played Bernie 'The Schmatte' Bernbaum in "Miller's Crossing" written specially for him by the Ethan and Joel Coen

Taught history at a Harlem high school, tended bar at the Right Bank on New York's Upper East Side and mounted off-off Broadway productions with friends at rented halls and at the Westbeth Theater

Helmed "Romance & Cigarettes" a big-screen musical about a two-timing husband (James Gandolfini) who must choose between his mistress (Kate Winslet) and his beleaguered wife (Elaine Stritch); film released theatrically in 2007

Made directorial and screenwriting (with Brandon Cole) debut with "Mac"; also co-starred; second film with Borowitz

Guest-starred on the USA comedy series "Monk"

Off-Broadway debut in John Patrick Shanley's "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea"; first created the role at the Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in 1983

Reteamed with wife Katherine Borowitz in "Two Thousand and None"

Re-teamed with director Michael Bay to play Seymour Simmons in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

Starred as a titular, befuddled screenwriter in the Coen brothers' "Barton Fink"; role loosely modeled on Clifford Odets

Reteamed with the Coen brothers for "The Big Lebowski," as a flamboyant Latin sex offender

Summary

Actor John Turturro rose to prominence as a favorite of filmmakers Spike Lee and the Coen Brothers with early roles in "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "Miller's Crossing" (1990), making him a go-to guy for volatile, complex characters. Because of his distinct, but indistinguishable appearance, the Yale Drama School grad was able to play a wide array of ethnic characters, giving him the opportunity to add more depth to cinema's historically two-dimensional Italians, Jews and Latinos. While Turturro made his home in independent film, he experienced commercial success with a starring role in "Quiz Show" (1994) and supporting role in "The Good Shepherd" (2006). Meanwhile, as a writer and director, he helmed three original films, including his ode to 1950s working-class Queens, "Mac" (1992), and an homage to turn of the century Italian theater, "Illuminata" (1999). Despite avoiding television throughout his career, Turturro emerged in 2004 with an Emmy for a guest stint on "Monk" (USA, 2002- ), and in 2007 earned kudos from fans and critics for his portrayal of combative Yankees manager Billy Martin in the ESPN mini-series "The Bronx is Burning."

Name

Role

Comments

Katherine Borowitz

Wife

Married in 1985; met at Yale School of Drama

Nicholas Turturro

Father

Died of lung cancer in 1988; came to US from Italy as a boy "knowing all the Fascist songs, and wound up a patriotic American serviceman who fought in D-Day"

Katherine Turturro

Mother

Worked in a Navy yard during World War II; appeared in son's directing debut, "Mac" (1992)

Amadeo Turturro

Son

Born during shooting of "Barton Fink" c. 1990; named after artist Amedeo Modigliani; has appeared in "Illuminata" and "The Royal Tenenbaums"

Diego Turturro

Son

Born in 2001

Nicholas Turturro

Brother

Played John's brother in "Mo' Better Blues"; also appeared with brother in "Jungle Fever" and on stage in "Arturo Ui"; worked as doorman at St. Moritz hotel in New York; TV series regular on "NYPD Blue"

Ralph Turturro

Brother

Contributed artwork and storyboards to "Mac"

Aida Turturro

Cousin

Played Grace in "True Love" (1989) and Eunice in 1992 Broadway revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Education

Name

State University of New York, New Paltz

School of Drama, Yale University

Notes

"Like a carpenter builds a table and it's standing there, actors should leave something behind them that you see and say, 'Ah, I'll never forget that.'" - John Turturro, quoted in Premiere, September 1989

"People make the mistake of thinking of John only in terms of his raw energy, of thinking that he is the character he plays in his films. But John has fabulous training, and he really learned how to channel his complex emotional life into dramatic poetry and physicality. He is really a craftsman." - Carey Perloff, director of "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" quoted in The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 11, 1991

"I try to work with people I'm attracted to and on things that are challenging. I'm not really happy just being like a hired hand. I've turned down parts I thought were one-dimensional. You know, some people's goal is to be a 'movie star.' I'd rather be an actor. I don't want to be bored. That's my goal." - John Turturro to New York, Aug. 12, 1991

"He doesn't do much else other than acting. Acting is the major thing in his life. He pretty much eats, sleeps, and shits it. He should try and relax a little bit and get a new car." - Nicholas Turturro, on his brother, to Premiere, September 1991

Named "hot actor" of 1990 by Rolling Stone magazine.

Having appeared in many of Spike Lee's films, John Turturro has developed a close friendship with the sometimes outspoken director and the ability to offer unsolicited advice. "I tell him to shut up, but in a nice way. People jump on him for things in his movies that anybody else could get away with. They have perceptions about him, and are always ready to attack. Then, he makes it worse by running off at the mouth. I say: 'Just zip it.'" - from the New York Post, July 21, 1997